iSeries Programming Facilities

SyedIbrahim Abbas

Topics to be covered
Source Entry Utility (SEU) Data File Utility (DFU) Screen Design Aid (SDA) Q&A

Source Entry Utility

SEU

SEU is a full screen editor that allows you to

Create new source members Print the member Edit, Browse and Delete the members

Edit Session

In edit session with SEU you can

Insert new records, Change/ delete records, Move record from one point to another, Find a special string

Special Features
SEU commands Line commands Syntax checking Additional options

SEU Commands

SEU command allow you to work with member without leaving the work screen Line commands help you to insert, copy, move, delete or prompt for records It performs automatic syntax checking of source statements for C, C++, Java, Cobol, RPG, CLP and REXX

Session Defaults F13

It specifies the characteristics of the SEU session.

How much of the display the PAGE UP/DOWN keys move Whether input is in upper case only Whether sequence checking is to be performed

Find/Change Options F14

Search for specific string in some or all records Change the specific string Search for records that contain syntax errors Search based on date edited

Select Prompt F23

SEU provides predefined prompts and format lines for high level languages and CL commands

Browse/ Copy option F15

To look at another member or spooled file Copy another member or spooled file to the member you are editing Copy specific records from another member

 You can also split the edit / browse session in to two parts This feature can be used to copy records from one member on display to member that you are editing

Starting SEU
Type STRSEU

Type source member Eg. INVMAST Source Type: Eg. PF Option: 2/*blank edit , 5- browse 6- Print Type the text description

Starting screen

Press F24 to display more function keys

Browse/copy F15

To copy a block of records type CC in the starting line and in end line and press enter Type A and press enter in the member we are editing to paste the copied content Press F12 to close the browse session, revert back to single screen

To insert a new line

Type IP in the next line

Data File Utility

DFU

To Enter data into Database file Used to create Data Entry Programs for users Once program created you can
Enter data Update files Make file enquires

DFU Menu

STRDFU To create a program type option 2 and press enter. In the 1st screen enter proram name/LIB and Data file/LIB

 The next screen defines the general DFU information

The program job title The display format Whether audit reporting is required if Y it will ask audit control options Whether records are updated when the user rolls between records To generate a key

Select Record and Field

Next select the record format you wish to use Select and sequence fields based on your requirement

Work with fields

You can view and modify the extended attributes of a field using option 2 This screen allows you to review the definition status of each field

Generate DFU Program

Press enter to generate DFU program

Change a Data File

After DFU program saved change screen will be displayed You can also select option 1 from DFU menu Using DFU program you can
Change a record file F11 Browse record page down / page up Print an audit report listing all the changes made to that file Automatically duplicate one or more fields

 Add new records

F9 to insert record in between two existing records F10 to add record at the end of file You can also use other function keys to refresh, select format and exit .

Screen Design Aid

SDA

SDA is an Interactive tool to design menus and displays used by program It is also used to create online help information

 SDA Painting image directly on screen SEU coding data description manually

SDA Menu - STRSDA

Files, Records, fields

Display file can contain multiple records A record may contain multiple fields SDA manages the records for you to cpy, delete, rename and design

Creating new display

Work screen

To add
Constant : surround your text with single quotes (), eg. Customer Field : type + followed by char I, O , B ( i/p, o/p, both) Num 3, 6, 9 ( i/p, o/p, both)

Predefined Constant and Field Attributes

You can also use predefined constant like
*USER *SYSNAME *TIME *DATE

You can define attribute of fields by placing * before any field and press enter To give a name to the field type ? Before the field

SDA and Database file

Press F10 from screen , Select database file screen is dispalyed Select option 1 to display all fields it the file

Define database field

Select option
2 for input 3 for output 4 for both

 Then you will be returned to the work screen All the database fields are listed at the bottom with a number You can add this field any where in the work screen by typing & followed by the reference number. E.g.&5

Record level keywords

Type option 8 then select record level keyword based on your need

Indicator keyword

Overlay keyword
If you do not want this record to clear the screen when it displayed then use this keyword . Type Y

Output keyword
This format is not to erase any other format underneath it

DDS

SDA will generate DDS based on the information on the screen You can view/edit tat using SEU

Advantages of using both SDA and SEU

SDA
Easily move fields and constant Easily change display attributes See what display will look before having operational program Easily link display fields to database fields

SEU
Easily copy DDS from other display files Copy or move section of code from one location to another Use global find and repalce Fine-tune a display